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I have an oak (Quercus robur) sapling I've grown from seed in a pot (it is 2 years old) and its leaves are exhibiting a powdery white mildew.

After some searching online I think it's a case of erysiphe alphitoides (it looks exactly like the photographs I've seen online). The information I've seen online states that it can be treated with fungicides that contain sulphur, but the information contains the caveat

this can damage some plants

Would a fungicide that contains sulphur harm a quercus robur oak? If so, what alternative fungicide would be appropriate?

I am in the UK, in the South of England if that's useful information.

Matt Hogan-Jones
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1 Answers1

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Sulphur is a contact fungicide. Really there are two forms of sulphur fungicide: powder or soluble. I assume that you need only the soluble one. "Contact fungicide" mean that you can test just few parts of the plant, and you can see if there are some problems with the plant.

As pnut wrote in comment, I think the interpretation is that it can damage some other plants. In any case it is very widely used, for plants, orchards, vineyards, vegetables and garden. So it is not common to have problems with sulphur. But as far I know, some fruits (as plant part) doesn't like it (e.g. some apple's varieties).

So check to buy just sulphur (the kind that dissolve in water). It is cheap. Many other fungicides includes it: because it is cheap, and because it prevent resistance, but better to avoid them, if there are no needed.

But you should read carefully the instructions. There are temperature limits (minimum and maximum). Outside such temperatures, the sulphur could burn the leaves.

EDIT:

I find only the following sensitivity on Sulphur:

  • high temperature: all plants
  • Apple varieties: Golden Delicious, Imperatore, Jonathan, Rome Beauty, Stayman
  • Pears: Williams
  • some peaches and most apricots.

If I remember correctly the problems are just in fruits (and just fruits that are subject to "rust")

Giacomo Catenazzi
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